Tired of Taxes...

Margaret Thatcher once said, "The problem with Socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people's money." I am increasingly bothered by our politicians' notion that they have first rights to my money. As the debates rage over tax rates, tax cuts, tax increases, luxury taxes, gasoline taxes, payroll taxes, personal income taxes, sales taxes, medicare, medicade, FICA, regulatory taxes, utility taxes, property taxes, excise taxes, business income taxes, unemployment taxes, et al- all of which I pay, and you probably do too, I have to ask, when is enough enough? Why does the Government have the "right" to my wage, the compensation to my hard labor? I understand the need to support our country, but at some point we've got to draw a line...

Clearly there is a danger of over-taxing those who earn a wage, who create wealth, to compensate those who rely on the government for their daily necessities. There is a class of people in our country now who create no wealth, who pay little or no taxes, who's main contribution is to draw their sustinence off the wealth of others. The cronic unemployed, those second- and third-generation welfare families are several examples, are people who have learned to work the system and live without contributing. And these groups continue to grow at an alarming rate. At some point there won't be enough "wealth creators" to sustain these people, or as Margaret Thatcher so succinctly reminded us, you run out of other people's money...

The problem is, aside from the all too scary shift from Capitalism to Socialism, is that welfare strips us of our pride. We are made to create, to work, to produce. Work produces pride. When we get something for nothing, and continue to do so over an extended period of time, we are stripped of our self-worth, our self-esteem, and our desire to work is replaced by a sense of entitlement. We come to expect something for nothing, and those who continue to work must shoulder an even heavier load so the government can tax and redistribute the wealth (ie. Socialism). The Government wants people dependent on them because dependency equals control, and the more people the Government controls the greater the power it can weild...

So what can we do? I suggest we need to return to the ideals of our forefathers. Federal government should concentrate on the defense of our country. That is the main mandate of the Federal Government. Allow the states and local governments to run their own states- for we are the United States, by name a group of independent states united by common goals and laws. Let the distribution of welfare be handled by the Church, or private organizations, as in the past, where people can receive aid, but also guidance and direction. It has worked for decades without government interference, as exemplified by the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, et al. We are a generous and giving people by nature, but resentful when government forces our generosity...

We need to re-instill pride in our people. If someone needs help then allow them to work for that help, so there will be a sense of something earned rather than something entitled. We need to reduce the size of government, first by cutting those departments and peoples who fail to meet their mandates (ex. The Department of Energy was formed under President Carter to decrease our reliance on foreign oil. Today there are 38000 employees in the DoE and we are more reliant than ever on foreign oil. Disband the department). The department of Education should be shut down and the control returned to states and cities to run. We could go down the list and cut about 2/3 of the government payroll as deadwood or not meeting mandates they were created for.

Want to really fix healthcare? Two steps: First, nationalize the regulations that health care providers adhere to. Right now every state has their own regulations. Most insurance companies can only operate in specific states that they qualify in; level the playing field by making all regulations the same and you will create more competition, and thus more competitive costs and pricing. Second: take away the "golden goose" healthcare plan we pay for for our congressmen and make them buy insurance like we do and they'll fix any other problems. There is a greater interest in fixing problems when they directly affect you in a personal way. (Take away the pension plan and put our congressmen on social security for their retirement too).

In conclusion, I think we need to simplify tax rates, reduce the size of government, hold political apointees accountable, and allow states to govern themselves again. Level the playing field to allow competition, and keep the government out of private industry. Our government has no business running car manufacturers or running health care, etc. Take note, Barrak, of Margaret's words, for their truth has not yet been evident to you... Food for thought...